Category: Motorcycle Accidents

Arizona motorcyclists are likely to encounter a variety of road surfaces from multi-lane expressways to rural back roads. The changing seasons mean that bikers may be out in scorching heat or during a rain storm, and if riding north, even greater weather changes may occur. But bikers in Arizona tend to be experienced and tend to be prepared for the circumstances that will present themselves on any ride, whether it is to work, to the grocery store, or simply to visit friends.

Unfortunately, bikers are at a high risk for sustaining serious or even fatal injuries in the event that a motorcycle accident occurs. In fact, Arizona is one of about a dozen states that regularly experiences more than 100 fatal motorcycle accidents every year which means that many family and friends are left to suffer serious losses when their loved ones are killed. Numerous factors contribute to lead to a motorcycle accident including distracted driving, speeding, failing to stop, and failing to yield the right-of-way. The thing most accidents have in common is that they are caused by a mistake on the part of one or more motorist involved.

Financial relief may be available under Arizona laws to those motorcyclist and passengers who are injured when an accident takes place. The right to seek relief belongs to a victim and may be available even when an at-fault driver does not receive a ticket in the crash. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer may help you understand your legal rights if you have been hurt in a Phoenix area accident.

A motorcycle crash occurred in Mesa around 4:00 p.m. yesterday and left the rider in critical condition, according to local authorities. The crash shut down traffic in the area of Gilbert and 8th Avenue as police investigated and emergency medical crews tended to the victim. The rider was taken to a trauma center in Scottsdale where the nature of his injuries and current condition are unknown, though his injuries are believed to be life threatening.
Continue reading “Motorcycle Accident in Mesa Seriously Injures 1”

Motorcycle accidents prove to be fatal more often than car accidents because riders on motorcycles are less protected and therefore more likely to be harmed in a crash. In fact, in 2010 alone, 4,500 bikers were killed in traffic accidents across the nation, averaging out to more than 12 riders killed per day. In addition, 80,000 riders were injured, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

With the staggering numbers of those injured and killed in motorcycle accidents, it may be easy to understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll caused by these crashes in Phoenix and across the rest of the Valley. Whether it is medical bills accumulating, wages that cannot be earned while work must be missed, loss of support for your family, or even the damage done by a loved one’s passing, these accidents can affect victims and their families in numerous, devastating ways. Though nothing can turn back the clock and erase a collision once it has occurred, victims of these crashes may be able to seek relief so that they can be properly and adequately compensated for their damages. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer in Phoenix may help you understand your legal options if you have been hurt in a motorcycle collision.

Police in Prescott were alerted to a downed motorcyclist near Summit Point and Senator Highway on Saturday. When officers arrived, the rider was not responsive and was on the ground, next to his motorcycle on the side of the road.

Emergency medical crews tended to the victim and transported him to an area hospital but the man’s injuries were too severe and he died as a result of the crash. Though it is early in their investigation, police believe that the man may have lost control of his bike, causing him to be thrown from the motorcycle. He may have hit his head as he struck the ground. At this time, it is not clear what caused the rider to lose control and whether any factors, including a mechanical failure or debris in the road, contributed to the crash. Authorities have reported that the man was wearing a helmet but that this helmet came off during the crash, also for reasons that are not yet clear.
Continue reading “Motorcyclist Killed in Arizona Accident”

The rights of motorcyclists to ride in Phoenix and the rest of Arizona often are not given the respect or the attention they deserve. But regardless of the attitudes of some drivers, the applicable laws are clear: bikers have the right to ride and other drivers must act with caution when in the area of a motorcycle. When motorists ignore bikers or fail to appreciate a biker’s presence, often a motorcycle accident occurs, which may leave the biker injured, or in the worst accidents, killed.

Phoenix area lawyers who handle injury cases on behalf of bikers understand how serious these accidents can be. With the relatively small size and weight of a motorcycle as compared to a typical passenger car, it is not surprising that the bike and its rider tend to experience the majority of the damage that occurs when a bike is hit by a car. The open nature of a motorcycle also means there is little to nothing to protect the rider in the event of a crash, which often leads to a rider’s body taking a direct hit from a car, fixed object, or even the road’s surface.

Each accident involving a motorcycle is different and the facts surrounding the crash are unique. That is why it is a good idea to speak with a personal injury lawyer after an accident to learn about the legal implications of your crash and whether you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Unfortunately in the worst accidents, a monetary recovery will never provide adequate compensation for the damages that occurred. This is always true when a loved one is killed in a crash while riding a bike.

Authorities in Yuma have reported a fatal accident between a motorcyclist and a car that took place on Saturday afternoon near the intersection of 16th Street and Gateway. A 65-year-old man was riding a motorcycle when police believe a car driven by an 18-year-old man rear-ended the bike, causing a serious crash that led to the biker’s death. At this time, police are not sure why the driver of the car struck the motorcycle but they have confirmed that after the initial impact, the car struck the biker’s body which led to fatal injuries.

Authorities are still investigating the collision and attempting to determine what caused the impact, including all factors that led to the initial crash. At this time, it is unclear whether the driver of the car will face criminal or traffic charges but all potential avenues are being explored.
Continue reading “Motorcyclist Killed in Yuma Crash”

The number of motorcyclists killed every year continues to rise in the United States with over 4,500 riders killed in 2010 alone. Phoenix and other parts of Arizona experience their fair share of these fatal accidents because motorcycles are such a popular means of transportation across the state. Though motorcyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as other riders on the road, they are often ignored, leading to a potentially dangerous situation where an innocent rider can be injured or killed in a crash.

When a biker gets hurt through the fault of another person, that biker may be entitled to seek relief for his or her injuries through a civil claim. These claims are available regardless of whether the other driver was charged or received a ticket in the accident because the claims are separate from any brought by the State of Arizona. Speaking with an injury lawyer who handles motorcycle accident cases is the best way to understand your legal options after a crash has left you hurt.

Unfortunately a motorcyclist lost his life on Saturday night in a collision with a pickup truck. The crash occurred in Casa Grande near the intersection of Florence Boulevard and Colorado Street and at this time, authorities believe that the driver of the pickup truck may be to blame.

Police have alleged that both motorists had a green light but that the driver of the pickup truck, a 42-year-old individual, pulled out in front of the motorcycle, causing a crash between the two vehicles sometime after 6:00 p.m. Police and emergency medical personnel responded to the accident scene but unfortunately, the injuries sustained by the biker were too severe and he was pronounced dead.

The driver of the pickup truck was arrested and charged with causing death by a vehicle, a crime which could result in incarceration if the driver is convicted. At this time, the investigation into the crash continues and police have not speculated as to why the driver of the pickup truck may have pulled out in front of the biker in the first place.
Continue reading “Truck and Motorcycle Collide, Leaving 1 Dead in Casa Grande”

People in Phoenix and the surrounding Valley love to ride motorcycles. Riding is so popular that bikers can be seen 12 months a year, in the cool winter months or the blazing heat of summer. Bikers are out and on the roads to commute to work, to run errands, or simply for pleasure riding. Regardless of why a motorcyclist is in the streets, his or her legal rights remain the same. Bikers are permitted users of Phoenix roads and they possess all the same rights as drivers of cars, trucks, and vans.

Yet despite the fact that bikers are entitled to ride, some other motorists fail to recognize these rights and fail to act in a safe and careful manner when a motorcycle is near their vehicle. Too often, this negligent behavior leads to a dangerous situation for the biker and potentially even an accident that can leave one or more people involved with serious, sometimes fatal injuries. A crash of this type may lead a victim to retain an injury lawyer to help seek financial justice against the responsible driver.

Early facts released by local police suggestion that a fatal motorcycle accident may have been the result of one driver failing to respect a motorcyclist’s rights in Glendale on Monday afternoon. It appears that the driver of a car turned left in front of an oncoming motorcycle in the area of Peoria Avenue and North 51st Avenue around 3:00 p.m., which in turn forced the motorcycle to swerve to avoid an imminent impact. When the biker swerved, he missed the turning vehicle but instead was struck by another car, causing a serious accident that left the biker injured. He was transported to a local hospital but his injuries were too severe and the biker was pronounced dead.

The driver of the car that turned left in front of the motorcycle fled the scene of the crash and has not yet been located. Local police are asking anyone with any information to contact the Glendale Police Department immediately.

Drivers flee the scene of accidents for a number of reasons but except in very limited circumstances, none are legally valid and can lead to additional charges asserted against the driver. That is because Phoenix law requires all motorists involved in a crash or incident leading to death like this one to remain at the scene until cleared by police. If early allegations are proven correct, the driver that fled the scene in this incident may be charged with a criminal violation of the law in addition to traffic offenses.
Continue reading “Motorcyclist Hit and Killed while Trying to Avoid Crash, At-Fault Driver Flees Scene”

Even during the winter months, motorcycling remains popular in Phoenix with thousands of riders on two wheels hitting the road regularly. In fact, the low amount of annual rainfall and warm temperatures make Phoenix one of the more popular cities to ride a motorcycle in the nation. With the large number of riders unfortunately comes a large number of motorcycle crashes and accidents. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, there were over 3,000 motorcycle accidents in 2011 with over 2,500 of those ending in injuries for one or more riders.

When a motorcycle accident occurs, the odds of a rider being injured are very high. This is due to many factors including the lack of protection surrounding a rider from the road, the potentially large size and fast speed of another vehicle that may hit a biker, and the potential for multiple impacts experienced by a rider, generally with the initial contact from another vehicle and then again as a biker strikes the ground. When a motorcycle accident occurs and leaves a rider injured, though, that rider may be entitled to financial compensation from the at-fault driver; a discussion with an injury lawyer can help victims understand whether they have a valid claim.

Some accidents are easy to determine who is at fault and what events led to a crash, but in other cases, these facts can be difficult to uncover or understand. Avondale police officers are dealing with a complicated crash right now that occurred on Monday morning between two motorcycles. The accident was severe and left one rider dead and a second with critical injuries.

The crash occurred in the area of 107th Avenue and Van Buren in Avondale. It is not yet clear whether the riders were traveling in the same direction or against one another when the two bikes collided. The force of the collision resulted in one of the riders being pronounced dead at the scene while emergency crews transported the second rider to an area hospital for examination and treatment of injuries. The condition of the second driver, originally described as critical, is not currently known.
Continue reading “Two Motorcycles Collide in Avondale, 1 Rider Killed”

A Tucson collision between two motorcycles left one man dead and another man seriously injured on Saturday afternoon. The crash occurred near the intersection of Bopp Road and Kinney Road, an area mostly known for its planned communities and mountainous views.

Police believe that a 59-year-old man was riding his motorcycle in the area and speeding as he approached two other men on bikes. Witnesses have reported that the 59-year-old man had passed vehicles in a no passing zone and was traveling above the posted speed limit when he approached the rear of a second motorcycle which was driven by a 53-year-old man. The first biker struck the bike of the second and caused a serious crash between the two and prompting emergency crews to respond.

The 53-year-old man was transported to an area hospital where he later died of his injuries. The 59-year-old man also received medical treatment at a hospital and is currently listed in serious condition. At this time, authorities believe that the 59-year-old man may have been impaired at the time of the collision and it is possible that the man will face criminal charges as a result.

Another motorcyclist appeared to be riding with the 53-year-old victim but did not stop after the crash. At this point in time, police have not identified that man and have not be able to speak with him. Anyone with any information regarding the unidentified biker or the crash in general is asked to contact the Tucson police.

With fall approaching as as temperatures begin to drop, motorcyclists will start hitting the roads in larger numbers than those in the heat of the summer. With an increased motorcycle presence on the roads, there comes an increased number of motorcycle accidents, many of which result in injuries or, in some cases, death. In fact, the number of motorcyclists killed each year has been on the rise over the last decade when national numbers are examined, a disturbing trend that has not been adequately explained. What is clear and understood is that in the event of a crash, a motorcyclist is much more likely to be injured than a driver or passenger in a car because there is nothing surrounding a biker to protect him or her from the impact of the crash or a second impact with the road.
Continue reading “Crash Between Motorcycles Leaves 1 Dead, 1 Seriously Injured”

A Flagstaff motorcycle crash last year that left a passenger dead has led to charges against the driver of driving under the influence, driving under the influence of drugs, and manslaughter.

The biker, an 18-year-old man from Flagstaff, met a 19-year-old female at the Flagstaff mall and offered her a ride on his motorcycle, which she accepted. While still behind the mall, the driver dropped his bike and the passenger hit the ground. The female passenger died several days later from her injuries while the driver was not injured in the crash. Tests after the collision showed marijuana in the driver’s system.

The biker claimed that he swerved to avoid another vehicle and therefore was not guilty of manslaughter as charged. Police have countered that the biker was driving under the influence and lost control of his bike, which in turn caused the injuries that resulted in the passenger’s death. Investigators have also noted that the driver was cited for speeding twice in the six month period before the fatal collision.

Reports indicate that the passenger was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

In 2011, there were 680 collisions in Arizona where the driver appeared to be under the influence of drugs. Of those 680 crashes, 40 involved fatalities and another 310 involved other injuries. Motorcycle crashes often result in much greater injuries than car crashes so it is not surprising that there were 16 motorcycle accidents with a driver under the influence of drugs that resulted in nine fatalities in Arizona in 2011. This means well over 50 percent of all motorcycle collisions with a driver under the influence of drugs resulted in death where only 6 percent of all car crashes with the same conditions resulted in a fatality.

The numbers are shocking. A biker who crashes while under the influence of drugs is likely to kill himself or his passenger.
Continue reading “Biker Charged with Manslaughter and DUI in Crash that Killed Passenger”

An Arizona motorcycle crash that took place on January 9, 2013 in Tucson has left two unidentified people injured. The incident occurred when the bikers were struck by car at East Sixth St. and N. Cherry Ave. The Tucson police Department is reporting that the motorcycle was carrying two people and was moving eastbound on Sixth Street in the right lane when a car headed west made a left turn, possibly failing to yield the right-of-way.

The accident occurred in very close proximity to the University of Arizona campus, between the student recreational center and the Arizona Stadium. One person on the scene, a university freshman, said he heard a big crash and when he looked outside he saw people laying on the ground, not moving. The car sustained damage to the front bumper, while the motorcycle was totaled, and was trapped under the car and was leaking gasoline
The exact injuries to the motorcyclists have not been reported. Afterwards they were taken to a local hospital by ambulance. Police Department officials stated that no traffic citations were issued after the accident, as it was unclear what color the traffic control light was at the time of the collision.

In a second collision, two people were hurt in a Phoenix area motorcycle accidents on January 18. The incident occurred at McDowell Road and 52nd St. One rider was taken by ambulance with serious injuries to a local hospital. How the accident occurred has not been reported, however local TV station video was able to show a female being placed into a police car in handcuffs.

In 2011, there were 2980 motorcycle accidents in the state of Arizona. There were 132 people killed and 2553 injured in those accidents. Motorcyclists were involved in 2.88% of all motor vehicle accidents in the State, while at the same time they represented 16% of all accident fatalities. Further, those involved in an Arizona motorcycle accident were injured over 90% of the time. These statistics demonstrate just how dangerous motorcycle riding can be.

Due to the fact that riders often have little or no protection, they can sustain severe spinal cord injuries, broken bones, head injuries, burn injuries, paralysis and sometimes death. While some argue that most motorcycle accidents are caused by aggressive riding, in reality most of these accidents are caused by the negligent actions of other drivers on the road.

Often motorcycle accidents are caused by vehicles failing to yield while making a left turn. Our law office is currently working on two separate motorcycle injury claims caused by motorists failing to properly turn left.

In Arizona, even if a motorcycle rider was partially at fault for an accident, he or she still may be able to obtain a monetary recovery for any damages incurred in an accident. If you or member of your family was injured in a Phoenix motorcycle crash, It would be best to contact a qualified injury lawyer as soon as you can.

If you’ve been hurt in Arizona accident, call the attorneys at Abels & Annes at 602-819-5191. Our experienced motorcycle accident lawyers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help answer your questions and move forward with your accident claim.
Continue reading “Recent Arizona motorcycle accidents a reminder of the dangers of riding”

A rules of the road violation has resulted in an Arizona motorcycle vs. car crash that caused the death of a motorcyclist and injuries to another, according to azcentral.com. The collision occurred on the west side of Phoenix on May 27th around 11 PM in the area of 79th Ave. and Thomas road. A 35-year-old female motorist driving a Chevy Impala was making a left turn out of the Desert Sky Mall and failed to yield to a motorcyclist headed eastbound on Thomas Road who had the right-of-way.

A second motorcycle rider, a 45-year-old male, who was also moving eastbound had to swerve to the left to avoid the accident. When he made this maneuver his motorcycle collided with a median. The biker died in the crash. The name of the victim has not been released, according to ABC news.

The Impala driver was not injured. Phoenix police officers responded to the scene of the accident and determined that drugs or alcohol did not play a role in the deadly crash.

In my experience as a Phoenix accident lawyer, too often motorists pay attention to other cars but fail to keep a proper sufficient lookout for motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians. Unfortunately, these types of accidents are very dangerous and even low-speed collisions can result in critical injuries.